Not sure I believe in ghosts but how do you explain this?!?!

[Dancinggirl84]

A few months ago I started waking in the night feeling like someone had tapped me on the leg or arm to wake me. Like my children do if they come in to me in the night and I'm fast asleep. I wake with a jolt but no child is there. The door isn't open so the children haven't been in and then gone again. Doesn't happen every night, maybe once every week or two. But last night it felt like I was really shaken quite firmly and I could hear female voices. I'm the only female in my house.
I don't know whether I believe in ghosts or not, maybe I've never had reason to think about it before! I do believe in an afterlife. It doesn't feel malevolent or bad but I would really like it to stop. If it is ghosts/spirits, any suggestions on how to stop it?

I didn't know what topic to put this in, so put it in 'other'!

It's really normal and has a name, which I can't remember! It's in the same area as waking with a feeling of falling, jerking limbs, etc - something to do with discharges of excess electrical activity. People report more these experiences when they're stressed, short of sleep or hormonal.

If you'd prefer a supernatural discussion, here's the board for you: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/the_unexplained

Hypnogogic dreams

Really pleased it might not be ghosty! I would say I'm definitely stressed and short of sleep. Thank you for link :)

Well it’s definitely not a ghost as they don’t exist.

Sleep paralysis?
Hypnogogic hallucinations happen just before you fall asleep.

I do believe in ghosts, so if all else is ruled out I’d go with that!

I expect it's just a really big spider landing on your arm.

It could well be this hypnogogic hallucinations but I might pop this on the unexplained boar and see what others think :)

I don't know @Dancinggirl84. I believe there is something though. I have often felt a "presence" in my house albeit a benign one. Recently I found out that the chap we bought our house from was married to his second wife who was lovely His first wife died decades ago when the three children were under five - we had no idea.

His first wife is sometimes here, I have felt her and heard her, often when there have been crises. It explains a lot.

Interesting. Our house is a new build so no previous owners. House is built on an old field, not aware of any history.

How does it 'feel' to you when she is around?

Hard to explain @Dancinggirl84 a bit like knowing someone else is in. I have heard her voice once or twice. Once after a bereavement, once when I'd left a door open and was about to go out. It was not my imagination.

A lot fell into place when I discovered a young mother had lived here and had died. It is a happy house.

Do you have a carbon monoxide detector? Not too worry you, but there have been cases of people experiencing hallucinations and odd events that turned out to be slow CO poisoning.

If it is a ghost, when you get woken up just firmly tell it to leave you alone. Apparently this works for friendly ones🤷

@saisong - yes we do.

Yes, we do. Just been to check the batteries are still okay though!

I had this, I decided to ask, out loud for the spirit to let me sleep, as I had a long drive/busy day next day. Did it a few times, now no waking up. I honestly think it was just my subconscious, not a spirit but it worked. Give it a go.

Yes, it's a well documented weird arsed thing (unlikely to be the medical terminology 😁) your brain can do as you're falling asleep/waking up.